People are quick to say, “I love you,” especially teenagers. What this frequently means is the person makes them feel good. But feelings alone cannot sustain a relationship, because true love is not self-centered, it is selfless. (1 Cor. 13:5). Scripture teaches that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” (1 Cor. 13:7) this is why “love NEVER fails.” (1 Cor. 13:8) Christ models this, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39; NASU)
The word for love in the scriptures is the word “charity.” Charity means loving someone in a way that seeks what is best for them and remaining selflessly committed until they have achieved their goals. For example, many parents who truly love their children model this kind of charity. Parents constantly sacrifice their time, energy, and ambitions to give their children the best, even when those children can be unappreciative and even disrespectful. Despite this, charity continues to serve others selflessly, always seeking their best.
Here is the issue, though: the only person who can provide this kind of love is God because only God is love (1 John 4:8). So even if a person desires to love someone based on how true love is defined and sustained, they cannot do so without God.
To empower us with this love, Christ came and loved us first (1 John 4:19; selfless). He demonstrated true love when He found us lost in sin and shaped in iniquity (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:8), having no desire for Himself (Romans 3:9-11). This lack of love was totally exposed by all those who caused Him to be nailed to the cross. These temple-goers knew what the Bible said and who He is (John 5:39-40) yet still hated Him. This helps us see that we can be in the church and memorize the scriptures yet still reject His love and therefore struggle to love each other for a long, endless period of time.
In order for us to love each other unconditionally, Christ teaches that we must first be committed to obeying Him (Matt. 22:36-40). Through this obedience, we experience the inner work of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:3-6), whom we can truly encounter (Hebrews 5:14; 6:4-5). When believers love God first through obedience, they are enabled to love even their enemies as God defines love (Romans 12:9-20). “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8). This is why our journey begins and ends with ‘Christ Alone.’ His love endures forever (Jeremiah 31:3).
Calvary is the vivid portrayal of selfless love (John 3:16).
Happy Resurrection Day!!